“Anna was a wonderful person and faithful servant of the Lord.” – Jay Wolf, Pastor Emeritus of First Baptist Church Montgomery.
Anna Elizabeth Williams, 64, of Mountain Brook, Alabama died peacefully Thursday, May 30, 2024. She was the daughter of the late Henry Harold and Elouise Wilkins Williams and the sister of the late Richard Wilkins Williams.
Natives of Pell City, Alabama, the Williams family moved to Mountain Brook in 1967 to be close to Harold’s law practice, Balch, Bingham, Baker, Hawthorne, Williams and Ward (now Balch and Bingham) and Highlands School, where Anna and Richard were students. The family quickly became an integral part of the Mountain Brook Baptist Church and the greater community.
An honors graduate of Mountain Brook High School, Anna was Miss Olympian her senior year.
Though thrilled to be awarded a full scholarship to Julliard, Anna chose Samford University to major in pre-med and stay close to friends, family, and her long-time piano teachers, Sam and Delores Howard at the University of Alabama, Birmingham.
Several years into her training for medical school, the pull of music overcame Anna’s quest to become a physician.
While at Samford, Anna was involved in numerous campus and honorary organizations and received many scholarship and leadership awards. She sang and accompanied the University Chorale and the Collegiate Choir. She sang in the A Capella Choir, Dean L. Gene Black Director, when they were backup singers for Barry Manilow’s 1981 concert in Birmingham. Anna graduated summa cum laude from Samford with majors in music theory and composition.
After graduating from Samford, Anna attended Cumberland School of Law where she received a J.D. in 1988. She was a member of the Cumberland Law Review.
After attaining her law degree, Anna moved to Montgomery to pursue her love of writing and legal research. She was a law clerk to Alabama Supreme Court Associate Justice Hugh Maddox. Subsequently, she clerked for Judge Dwight Williams of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Alabama.
In Montgomery, Anna became an essential member of the First Baptist Church. She was the accompanist for the choir under several directors. She played for Sunday and special services, and particularly enjoyed being part of the Living Christmas Tree during the holiday season. While in Montgomery, Anna also brought her music to the inmates at the Maxwell Federal Prison ministry led by Col. Ken Brothers of First Baptist Church.
Despite her many involvements and obligations in Montgomery, Anna always made time for her family and friends in Birmingham. As her father’s health declined, Anna moved home to assist with his care and manage family interests.
In 1996, Anna performed a dedicatory concert on the Steinway piano that had been donated to Mountain Brook Baptist Church. Music included two of Anna's compositions, which were sung by Samford Music Professor Dr. Bill Bugg.
In Birmingham, Anna became the pianist and accompanist for Brookwood Baptist Church, Mountain Brook, Keith McLeod Worship Minister.
Music was always Anna’s passion and refuge. In Birmingham, she joined RAPPAS (Rank Amateur Piano Players Auxiliary Symposium) a lighthearted group of serious pianist friends who played for each other and performed recitals locally and regionally. Among the RAPPAS participants is Van Cliburn Piano Competition winner and noted Birmingham ophthalmologist, Andrew Mays, M.D.
Several of Anna’s compositions and arrangements were published by Hinshaw Music Publishing, and she gave many more unpublished works to friends.
Anna is survived by scores of friends across Alabama and beyond.
A joint service for Anna and her mother, Elouise Wilkins Williams will be held at 11 am, Saturday, June 8, 2024, at Mountain Brook Baptist Church, 3631 Montevallo Rd. Mountain Brook, AL.
Memorial contributions can be made to Brookwood Baptist Church, Mountain Brook Alabama; Mountain Brook Baptist Church, Mountain Brook Alabama; or the Samford University Legacy League.
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